There were no further arguments during dinner, and when Kyo wanted to leave to begin his shift at the Opera House, Meg and Jo walked him out to his scooter.

Meg didn't hide her concern. "You all right?" she said. "I've never seen you blow up at Sei like that."

"Hey," Kyo said averting his eyes as he got on his scooter, "it's nothing."

"No, it's not, Kyo," Meg said. "Look at me, Kyo. Kyo? Look at me. Look at me."

Kyo looked her.

"What you, Jo, and I have been through together would fill a book," Meg said. "We've seen some serious crap together and come out alive. All kidding aside, Jo and I aren't just your friends - we're your blood sisters. You got a problem, you should know you can come to us."

"I know, Meg, I know… I guess in spite of everything, you guys have grown on me. Every time I learn something new at school, I want to try it here. You're my guinea pigs. If you like it, I know I can do it anywhere. And if Jo doesn't like it even with hot sauce, I figure it's toxic and I will never serve it again."

Meg smiled at that.

"But, Meg…" Kyo went on, his smile fading, "I didn't sign up for this."

Meg put a hand on his shoulder. "I know…I know."

"I just love to cook," Kyo said. "That's all I want to do. I'd cook 24-7 if I could. And French Pastries, they're like works of art. The moment I learned about them, that's what I wanted to do with my life. That's why I'm here. When I called the number on that flier, that's what I thought I would do - just cook. Maybe work for three supermodels living in a townhouse or something, or three old ladies, I don't know. Though I'm glad you're all easy on the eyes. Even Amy has her cute moments."

Meg smiled. "Careful, Kyo. If you keep saying things like that, we may think you like us, and we'll never let you go." (Sei came to the door and watched from the top of the steps.)

Kyo chuckled. "But the rest of it, Meg …the Cybots, the glowing brains, having mechs almost land on me, being in shootouts and kidnapped and dragged all over the place…"

"I know … Buddy, I know."

"I hate to tell you this, Meg, because you can be nice and like you say, we have been through a lot together, but if I could do it all over again, I'd throw that damned flier in the garbage."

"And I wouldn't blame you at all, Kyo, though I'm glad you found us. We all are. But listen to me, if you put up with all our crap and still manage to fulfill your dream, then all of this will have been worth it."

"I suppose it would have."

Meg smiled. "And if, some day, four crazy women come into your pastry shop in Paris…"

Kyo smiled. "I know-run like hell."

"No," Meg smiled, "serve us gooey and fattening and sinfully delicious confections that will give our nutritionists nightmares. Then run like hell."

Kyo laughed. "Ok, Meg, I think I can do that."

Meg gave him a hug. "You have a good night, ok? Show those clowns at the Opera House how it's really done. And remember, you can talk to me any time. I'm here for you. We all are."

"I know. Thanks, Meg."

Meg watched the scooter head away. She started to turn towards the steps, then stopped and glared across the abandoned mall's parking lot. "Oh, crap."

"What?" Sei called from the top of the steps.

Meg pointed at a car parked hundreds of yards away. "Guess."

The car started to pull away.

Sei cursed, darted back into the trailer, and grabbed her coat, her phone and her car keys. "Wait for me here."